Improvement in rudders



J. L. KNIGHT.

Rudder..

Pate n ied April, 2, 1878...

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MPETERS. PHOTD-LITHOGRAPMER. WASHINGTONVD C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

JOHN L. KNIGHT, on NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN RUDDERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 201,927, dated April 2, 1878; application filed February 12, 1878. v

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J0HN L. KNIGHT, of New York city, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rudders, of which the following is a specification:

My invention is designed more especially for smallyachts and boats, where the rudder is made removable and capable of being shipped or unshipped, as required.

It is well known that, as usually hung-by means of two hooks or pintlesit is often quite difficult to cause both hooks to simultaneously engage with the rudder-eyes, especially in a rough sea, and when engaged the attachment is so insecure that the rudder is liable to become accidentally unshipped.

The object of my invention is therefore to,

so improve the mode of hanging the rudder as to enable it to be shipped with ease and precision, and, when in place, incapable of being unshipped except by intention.

My invention relates to that class of rudders which have slotted eyes to allow of being readily shipped or unshipped when desired.

It consists in an improved rudder iron or hanger, formed of a pintle joined to its base by a continuous web, forming a guide and stop for the lower eye of the rudder, the extreme ends of the pintle being free from the web, to form journals for the rudd er-eyes, one of which is slotted at right angles to the rudder.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows a side elevation, Fig. 2 an end elevation, and Fig. 3 a fragmentary sectional plan, of my invention.

a or represent the stern of the boat; 12, the rudder, and A B Othe improved rudder-iron on which the rudder is hung.

As shown in Fig. 3, the sectional shape of .the hanger is similar to an I-rail.

v Ais the pintle on which the rudder-eyes swing, which is single and continuous, as

- shown, and is joined to the base 0 by a web,

B, which extends between the position of the rudder-eyes, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, each end of the pintle projecting beyond the web to form journals A A on which the ruddereyes may freely turn. The lower end of the pintle terminates on a step, D, which forms the bearing for the lower eye and supports the rudder.

The base-plate 0 may be fiat, and be screwed to the stern, as shown, or it may be formed with flanges to clasp the stern-post, or in any other suitable manner. Thus formed, the improved hanger is cast in one piece, preferably in brass, or other non corrodible metal, a wrought-iron core being preferably inserted in the center of the pintle A to increase the strength, as indicated in Fig. 3.

The rudder-eyes E E are formed in the usual way, except that the lower eye, E, is slotted lengthwise, as shown, to enable it to slide upon and over the web and pintle. This slot is cut in such a position, as shown in the drawings, that the eye will slide upon the web and pintle only when the rudder is placed parallel with the stern in one direction, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3. In this position the rudder is shipped with great ease and precision. The lower eye, sliding upon the web, guides the movement of the rudder, and insures the proper journaling of the eyes without particular care or attention.

When the lower eye strikes the step D the 1 eyes become socketed on their journals, and a turn of the rudder then brings the unslit portion of 'thelower eye under the web, which thus locks the rudder in place, and effectually prevents its being unshipped while in action.

By this construction, While the rudder can the rudder hangs on the back of this eye. If-

the upper eye is out like the lower one, it is so weakened as to be liable to open or break, especially when partly worn, unless made so strong as to be unnecessarily heavy and cumbersome.

The construction of the hanger is also such that great strength is secured, so that it is not capable of being injured by forces to which it is liable-to be exposed, unlike the usualihooks,

which are often bent and broken by the backing of the stern against a fixed object,

The simple construction of the hanger enables it to be furnished at no greater cost than the hangers now used, andthese advantages render it an important improvement.

I am aware that a long pintle, in combination with slotted rudder-eyes which slideupon the pintle at one position, has been used before my invention, and this I do not claim. What I claim as my invention is- An' improved rudder-hanger, consisting of the continuous pintle A, joined to its base by JOHN L. KNIGHT.

WVitnesses EDWARD H. WALES, CHAS. M. HIGGINS. 

